Early-season smiles for Loïs Openda and RB Leipzig after solid Bundesliga start
It's a case of special new season's greetings for RB Leipzig, with the Saxony side sitting pretty in the standings as one of only three Bundesliga teams with a 100 percent record after two matchdays.
Saturday's significant scalp taken away at the previously untouchable Bayer Leverkusen bodes especially well for Marco Rose's men, who will be challenging on several major fronts in 2024/25.
In star striker Loïs Openda, Die Roten Bullen possess a classy difference-maker who already looks eager to challenge the big Bundesliga numbers he posted last term. A star cast that contains the likes of Xavi and Benjamin Šeško, along with important new arrivals, are making Leipzig a team to be wary of once more.
"We want to get better, step by step, and that’s what we showed today," Openda told bundesliga.com after his fifth Bundesliga goalscoring double - and fourth away from home - aided Leipzig's come-from-behind 3-2 win at the BayArena on Matchday 2.
Watch: Openda and Leipzig stun Bayer Leverkusen
"We did great [last term] but we want to do better this season," the Belgian added. "After [the opening-day victory against] Bochum and today against Leverkusen, we showed that we are ready and we showed how good we are. I’m sure we will continue this season. I trust my teammates and all the people here and I am sure we will do it all together.”
Along with achieving Supercup glory with a comprehensive victory against Bayern Munich at the beginning of last term, Leipzig went on to earn a fourth-placed finish in their eighth consecutive season in the German top flight. Openda weighed in with an astonishing 24 goals in the Bundesliga, placing him third on the final goalscorers standings behind Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy, an incredible feat for the 24-year-old in what was his first season at the Red Bull Arena.
Watch: Openda delighted after victory at the BayArena
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What has Leipzig fans very excited is that Openda has begun where he left off last term. The former Club Brugge, Vitesse Arnhem and Lens striker scored in both games against Leverkusen in 2023/24 and he did so again on Saturday, adding a brace to Kevin Kampl's strike against his former side. "I am the man [who score], but I am not the only man today; I think everybody did it, from the people on the bench to the coach," Openda explained of his side's match-winning exploits. "Everybody did their job and we fought for this victory. We deserved it and I am really happy for everybody."
Showing incredible efficiency, Openda made two of his three shots on target in the game count, yet his coach feels there is even more in the Belgian international. "I think he could score a lot more if he was a little bit more active in his position," Rose said.
"I know it’s not easy for him to run with the ball and off the ball, but if he brought himself into better positions in certain situations with his quality, then he would score a lot more. That is what we are going to work on."
Ending double-winners' Leverkusen's 35-game unbeaten run in the Bundesliga came after Leipzig opened their account with a 1-0 win against Bochum on opening day. The club's exciting new Norwegian attacker Antonio Nusa - recently arrived from Brugge - scored the game's deciding goal on his Bundesliga debut. That result came soon after news that one of last term's star turns, Paris Saint-Germain's Xavi, had agreed to stay on loan with the Saxony-based side for one more season.
Although Spain sensation Dani Olmo decided to depart for Barcelona, Leipzig look well set to cope in attack, particularly given the evidence of their opening two Bundesliga games. Other additions such as versatile defender Lutsharel Geertruida and midfielder Arthur Vermeeren will help to bolster an already impressive squad.
Watch: Antonio Nusa off the mark against Bochum
Coach Rose will need those numbers, especially with his side also facing a UEFA Champions League challenge that will demand the very best from Leipzig. League phase fixtures against the likes of Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Liverpool, Inter Milan and Aston Villa, among others, will have fans of the Red Bulls filled with excitement and expectation and the players keen to get their European campaign started.
“It’s a long season, so I don’t want to talk about what we can achieve or what kind of season it will be," RBL flying full-back Benjamin Henrichs told bundesliga.com. "It was a good game today (against Leverkusen) and we showed good spirit but I would not like to talk about the remaining 32 [Bundesliga] games."
For now, Leipzig are basking in the glow of being the Bundesliga team with the longest unbeaten run (13 games), having put a pin in Leverkusen's balloon. They will look to continue their high-flying start when Union Berlin come to town after the international break.
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